The Northampton Public Schools welcomes School Choice students at all grade levels. Thank you for your interest in Northampton Public Schools!
Applications are required for each applying student.
Please Note: School Choice spaces for 2011-2012 have been filled.
SCHOOL CHOICE APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED STARTING JANUARY 3, 2012 WITH A DEADLINE OF 4 P.M. ON APRIL 20, 2012
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SCHOOL CHOICE OVERVIEW:
All school-age children who live in Massachusetts are entitled to attend a public school free of charge and all children between the ages of 6 and 16 must attend school. Most children attend school in their home district, the school district in which they live. The School Choice Program which Northampton Public Schools (NPS) participates in allows parents an opportunity to have their children attend our schools while residing in a surrounding town.
- There are a limited number of School Choice seats and participation in the School Choice Program is determined by The Northampton School Committee’s annual vote.
- An Application is required for each student applying and those applications must be received by the deadline.
- Applications from siblings of students already enrolled in Northampton Public Schools under the School Choice program and who will remain in the School Choice program during that school year will, by law, receive priority in placement. Such students will be accepted first, IF space is available in the grade they are seeking. If there are more applicants than the number of seats, a random drawing will be conducted among them to determine placement.
- Once siblings have been placed, the remaining vacancies will be filled by a random drawing.
- Should the number of applications exceed the number of vacancies, all applicants not accepted will be randomly selected and placed, in the order of their selection, on a waiting list.
- Parents will receive a Notice of Acceptance indicating their child’s status (seat awarded or waitlist status) via mail, which must be returned by the deadline to the School Choice Coordinator.
- Your home district does not have to approve your child's application for admission to NPS.
- If your child is accepted into the program, the student is entitled to attend NPS through high school graduation, if continuously enrolled.
- There are no openings in the Behavioral, Alternative or Specialized Special Education Programs. However, mainstream classes can provide special education services, with the exceptions above. Students currently received Special Education Services will be required to provide a current IEP during Enrollment.
- Your child may be denied a School Choice Seat based on past school disciplinary actions in accordance with MA General Laws.
- Bus Transportation is not available for School Choice students. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the parents/Guardians to provide daily transportation and to ensure students arrive at school on time and are promptly pick-up after school.
- Students accepted into the School Choice Program must REGISTER their child in NPS. Students entering Grades K-8, contact Jennifer Towler at 413-587-1328, for Grades 9-12, contact Julie Kurose, NHS Guidance at 413-587-1353 to make an appointment. Registration forms & requirements can be found on our website.
- If accepted, parents must notify their child’s School Secretary to report any change in our home address.
- The School Choice Lottery will take place In May, with notifications mailed the following week.
More information about our Schools: Massachusettes Department of Elementary & Secondary Education Profile:
You are welcome to visit our schools as a quiet observer during school hours. Please see the VISITING DAYS link on the right.
